Forever Florida

The privately-owned Crescent J Ranch, as well as the adjacent Forever Florida wildlife conservation area, provide a unique birding and wildlife viewing experience. Tours through the working cattle and horse ranch and untouched pine flatwoods, prairies and hardwood hammocks are by four-wheel-drive, open-air, elevated motor coaches, from which you can see alligators, massive flocks of Wild Turkeys, soaring Bald Eagles and Florida Sandhill Cranes nesting in seasonal ponds. You may explore the hammock of Bull Creek on foot via a boardwalk; listen for migratory songbirds here and watch for resident wading birds (including Anhingas, Limpkins, Green Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons) among 500-year-old cypress trees. Commonly seen butterflies include Checkered White, Gray Hairstreak, Queen, Common-checkered Skipper and Southern Skipperling. For the more adventurous visitor, guided equestrian tours ranging from several hours to several days are offered. The Forever Florida Learning Center provides educational programs; call in advance for details or stop by the visitor center. Touring this site is a great opportunity to learn more about Florida’s habitats and how its lands are managed with prescribed fire for the health of all their inhabitants. Hikers may also traverse 4.5 miles of self-guided trails on their own (check-in/check-out required).